As the skies grow busier with small drones, air taxis and other advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles, the need for precise, hyperlocal weather intelligence has become important to achieve more reliability in services, higher aircraft drone use rates and better return of investment on investments made in drones and electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing vehicles (eVTOLs.) TruWeather Solutions, a recognized leader in low altitude micro-weather analytics, is set to launch its highly anticipated V360 Companion Field App in late summer or early fall. This new mobile application will put the power of TruWeather’s trusted V360 Professional Workbook directly into the hands of drone pilots and AAM operators to offer precision weather intelligence where it matters most: in the field.
Aviation-Grade Weather Intelligence To Go, Please
TruWeather Solutions designed the V360 Companion Field App as a seamless extension of its trusted V360 Professional Workbook, a web-based and API-integrated command suite already relied upon by aviation professionals in operations centers across the country. The new mobile app will deliver actionable, aviation-grade weather plus a growing network of ground based weather stations and wind measurements above the ground. Airport weather observations (aka., METARS) are not representative of weather conditions in 95% or more of geography where drone and eVTOL operations occur. TruWeather’s focus is on where drones and eVTOLs will fly.
“Drone operators who are flying public safety, agriculture and drone delivery operations tell me they need more than METARS and a general forecast. The weather variability between hourly airport weather reports causes so much uncertainty that it causes them to cancel flights when they can fly. They need context-specific, real-time data that reflects the actual conditions where their aircraft are flying,” explained Don Berchoff, CEO of TruWeather Solutions. He should know. Berchoff’s own background, with over 40 years of experience in weather and aviation, includes 24 years in the U.S. Air Force and a leadership role at the National Weather Service. He brings unparalleled knowledge and expertise to the challenge of micro-weather analytics. “With the V360 Field App, we’re putting actionable weather intelligence powered by data that is truly more precise in the palm of every pilot’s hand,” he said.
The V360 Professional Workbook Foundation
Even before the company’s latest mobile iteration, the V360 Professional Workbook had already set the standard for weather risk management in drone operations. Unlike generic weather apps, aviation meteorologists with deep expertise in UAS operations developed V360 and specifically tailored it to the realities of drone flight—where very local, subtle weather changes can have significant operational impacts.
All-In-One Command Center
Accessible through a robust web interface and API, the V360 serves as an all-in-one weather command center that aggregates various high-resolution weather models, chooses the best attributes of each model based on the pilot’s location. Pilots know, especially those flying remotely, that weather is very different in the Desert Southwest, Gulf Coast, U.S. Northern Tier, High Plains, Mountain West, Pacific Northwest or along the East Coast. TruWeather’s analytics take this all into account for you and present localized surface and 80-meter wind analyses, wind gust forecasts, ceiling and visibility assessments along with comprehensive government aviation weather reports such as METARs, TAFs, PIREPs, GAIRMETs, and SIGMETs. V360 supplements all this with quality controlled agriculture, road and mesonet weather observations, camera data and proprietary weather measurements from a growing network of noval weather sensors deployed between airport METAR reports that includes wind and cloud measurements above ground level, and wind sensors on towers.
Sensor Network For High-Res Models
More weather measurements at higher density is especially critical for drone flights operating in terrain, in areas with forests and widespread water sources or between urban structures, where wind, precipitation type and visibility can change rapidly and unpredictably. TruWeather’s noval weather sensor deployments close measurement gaps, which deliver unmatched weather granularity and weather update frequency. TruWeather also has a beta capability to collect weather data from “working drones” to inform operators in real time of wind changes in the airspace.
As TruWeather’s low altitude weather network expands, sufficient weather data will exist between airports to generate urban and suburban street-scale models to detect drone-impacting weather phenomena that no other weather sources can detect today through regular government or commercial services. These granular insights are required to reduce weather uncertainty and empower pilots to fly more hours per aircraft by anticipating and responding to rapidly changing conditions on the ground and in the air.
The platform’s plug-and-play sensor integration combines both public and private weather data from 50,000 real-time sensors available in V360 into a single, intuitive interface. At the same time, proprietary decision support tools help operators make informed go/no-go decisions to reduce weather-related delays and enhance safety.
Real Time Weather Visualization
Understanding weather is not just about numbers—it’s about seeing the bigger picture. The V360 Companion Field App offers interactive radar and satellite imagery with animation controls and timeline sliders. This allows users to track the development and movement of storms, precipitation and cloud cover. The ability to toggle between multiple data layers supports comprehensive analysis to help operators anticipate and mitigate weather-related risks.
Precision Weather Intelligence Anywhere, Anytime
Soon the V360 Companion Field App will bring all of these V360 Professional Workbook features out of the operations center and into the field. This addresses a longstanding request from UAS and AAM operators.
TruWeather’s team engineered the app’s interface with UAS operator input. Color- coded risk assessments enable quick, at-a-glance evaluations of flight conditions to support fast and confident go/no-go decisions. Just as with the Workbook, users can access aviation-specific data such as METARs and TAFs, and set custom thresholds based on their operation’s unique weather risk profile. This ensures that every pilot receives insights that are directly relevant to their mission and airspace.
“We know that drone pilots face unique weather challenges, from low-level wind surprises to sudden visibility drops and freezing drizzle patches,” noted Berchoff. “We engineered the V360 Field App to prioritize exactly the information they need, when and where they need it,” he said.
Seamless Integration Equals Continuity of Operations
TruWeather’s expanding IoT sensor ecosystem ensures that the data feeding both the web-based Workbook and the new mobile app will be as current and localized as possible for continuity of intelligence across platforms. Operators will benefit from a unified experience, whether they are planning missions in the office or making real-time decisions in the field.
“Continuity between the V360 web suite and mobile app means operators never have to compromise on the quality or relevance of their weather data. It’s a seamless bridge that combines forces to bring the most comprehensive one-stop shop drone weather service on the market. I challenge anyone to show me a UAS app that has the key government aviation weather products, custom weather analytics and the local weather sensor plug and play capability for not just surface based weather, but real weather measurements above the ground at the price point we provide.” Berchoff explained.
Enabling An Entire Drone and AAM Ecosystem
TruWeather Solutions’ vision extends beyond individual operators and even beyond this new app. The company continues to actively collaborate with drone service providers to integrate weather sensors and digital services into comprehensive “drone-in-a-box” solutions. This holistic approach to bundle detect-and-avoid capabilities, weather integration and airspace management strategies will provide municipalities and enterprise clients with a turnkey ecosystem. The V360 platform is a cornerstone of this strategy. Now, the new app will supersize this ecosystem’s capability stack.
Industry Standards Shaped For This New Era
TruWeather Solutions has not just built next gen weather technology. It also shaped the standards that will define the next era of weather for aviation. The company played a leading role in the ASTM F38 Weather Standard, which is set to open the door for novel weather measurements—such as those from the company’s WISE™ (Weather Intelligence Sensor Ecosystem) network—in support of flight control decisions. By advocating for best-in-class sensing technologies and collaborating with international partners, TruWeather has ensured that the industry’s growth will be matched by advances in safety and reliability by bringing standard-compliant data right to the operator’s fingertips.
The Road Ahead: V360’s Launch and User-Centric Development
As anticipation builds for the public launch of the V360 Companion Field App, TruWeather Solutions invites early adopters to join an exclusive waitlist. Beta users will have the opportunity to shape the platform’s development by providing direct feedback on features and workflows that matter most to the UAS and AAM community. This user-centric approach reflects TruWeather’s longstanding commitment to collaboration and continuous improvement.
“V360 is the product of years of listening to operators, understanding their pain points and building solutions that address real-world challenges,” Berchoff noted. “We’re excited to work with our early users to refine the app and ensure it delivers maximum value from day one.”
A New Level of Weather Intelligence
The launch of the V360 Companion Field App marks a significant milestone not just for TruWeather Solutions, but for the entire drone and air taxi community. By delivering hyperlocal, aviation-grade weather intelligence in a mobile-friendly, customizable platform, TruWeather will empower operators to unlock higher levels of safety, operational confidence and more flights per aircraft.
As the demands on drone and AAM operations continue to grow, the ability to anticipate and adapt to changing weather will undoubtedly define both operational and economic success. With V360, TruWeather Solutions continues to set a new standard for precision weather intelligence—one grounded in science, shaped by experience and built for the future of flight. And its V360 app is more than just another app—it’s the next step in building a safer, smarter and more connected sky.
Be a part of the future. Interested App Beta users can sign up at truweatherv360.com.
By: Dawn Zoldi